Thursday, September 13, 2012

HEAD’S UP: Continuing the approach we adopted commencing with the Fall 2012 edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York, VEVLYN'S PEN will put emphasis on the truly inspirational on the runway, rather than a sort of “best of the lot, even if it’s not that good.” Why the change? Simply put, we have grown weary of watching far too many collections that lack imagination because too much attention has been paid to the bottomline. If nothing inspires, we will tell you so and tell you why. We still endeavor, however, to provide a roundup of the best, worst and most interesting Yours Truly (and others) witnesses, from trends to sightings to the rather unusual/bizarre.

REGARDLESS of the season, by day 7 of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York many of the collections are strong.

Understandable, since as the week progresses the guns become bigger. Not that a big gun necessarily produces a rocking firepower collection. More often than not it does, though.

A look from the Milly by Michelle Smith Spring-Summer 2013 collection. Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images.

Of course, there are always those collections – amongst the young and untried as well as the celebrity set – that lead to head-scratching and wonder about the designer's point of view. Or something along the lines of, “S/he got financing to show that in the tents." More head-scratching and, head-shaking. Further, as one wag put it last night: “Something you can go into a showroom to see and be done with it.”

This season was no exception, but let’s keep the focus on the good. Any day that Anna Sui, Douglas Hannant, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore and Vivienne Tam (See VT video above) are showing is a banner day for fashion.

Yesterday was such a day. The nitty gritty details are coming. For now, enjoy the picture show.